First Official Photo From Iron Man 3—but Is There a New Baddie, Too?

Marvel Studios and Disney release new on-set shot of Robert Downey Jr. in character, but is Ben Kingsley playing supervillain The Mandarin?

Marvel Studios and Disney officially announced Iron Man 3's production start on Monday, releasing a behind-the-scenes shot of Robert Downey Jr. in character in Tony Stark's hall of armor.

Production was already underway last week in Wilmington, N.C., and questions about the flick—including whether Ben Kingsley will be playing a supervillain who at one point was The Mandarin—quickly swarmed the Web.

Today's press release, however, only mentions Downey, Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle as starring in the flick, leaving the Kingsley-as-Mandarin theory up for speculation.

The production schedule will include locations in Raleigh/Durham, N.C., Miami and China.

Iron Man 3 is schedule to hit theaters May 3, 2013.